Frequently asked questions
- Will CleanSift delete my photos automatically? No. CleanSift only ever suggests items. Nothing is removed until you review the queue and approve it yourself.
- If I delete something by mistake, can I get it back? Usually. Approved items go to Apple's Recently Deleted album, where Photos normally keeps them for up to 30 days unless you remove them sooner.
- Does CleanSift upload my photos? No. Photo analysis runs on your iPhone. Release builds may ask Apple's system service for an encrypted model key on first activation, but that request contains no photos or analysis results. See the Privacy Policy.
- How does it tell duplicates from similar shots? CleanSift combines neural similarity with visual fingerprints to group exact duplicates and same-moment bursts, then keeps the sharpest shot of each group.
- Why is a photo marked "protected"? Favorites, standing protection rules, and likely memories can open protected or require careful review. These are safety defaults, not guarantees. You make every final decision.
- Why does a scan show fewer photos than expected? Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → CleanSift and check whether access is Limited. CleanSift can analyze only the items Apple makes available.
- Why can't I delete from a restored report? A report restored after relaunch may no longer match the current library. Run the offered recheck or start a fresh scan before deletion is available again.
- What is free, and what requires Pro? Full-library scans, reports, review, deletion, search, and one-video-at-a-time compression with the Balanced preset are free and unlimited. Pro adds Compress All, quality presets, a minimum-video-size batch rule, and monthly report export.
- How do I clear local analysis data? Use the relevant controls in CleanSift Settings to clear cached or face-derived data. Removing CleanSift also removes its local app-container data.
Purchases & subscriptions
- How do I restore a purchase? Open CleanSift → Settings → Restore Purchases. Purchases are tied to your Apple Account, so they restore on another supported iPhone signed in with the same account.
- How do I cancel my subscription? iOS Settings → Apple Account → Subscriptions → CleanSift. Cancelling stops future renewals; Pro stays active until the end of the paid period.
- I bought Lifetime — is that a subscription? No. Lifetime is a one-time purchase that unlocks the current Pro feature set and never renews.
- I'd like a refund. Purchases are handled by Apple. Request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Still stuck?
Email [email protected] with the CleanSift version, iOS version, iPhone model, and what happened. Screenshots of the CleanSift interface can help, but do not attach private photos unless you intentionally choose to share them.